Canada should distance itself from U.S. hegemonism -state media

13/12/2018 11:48

        Canada should distance
        itself from U.S. "hegemonism" and grant unconditional freedom to
        Meng Wanzhou, a top executive of China's Huawei detained in
        Vancouver on Washington's request, state-owned tabloid Global
        Times said in a Thursday editorial.
        
        Meng, the chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies
        , has been accused by U.S. prosecutors of misleading
        banks about transactions linked to Iran, putting the banks at
        risk of violating sanctions. She was arrested on Dec. 1 and
        released on bail on Tuesday.
        
        The United States needs to make a formal extradition request
        within 60 days of her arrest, which a Canadian judge will weigh
        to determine whether the case against Meng is strong enough.
        Then it is up to Canada's justice minister to decide whether to
        extradite her.
        
        Meng has no criminal record anywhere in the world and her
        arrest violates a U.S.-Canada extradition agreement, the Global
        Times said, adding that Canada could end the crisis immediately
        by freeing Meng unconditionally, rather than acting as the "51st
        state" of the United States.
        
        "Canada should distance itself from U.S. hegemonism and
        fulfil its obligations to help maintain international order and
        protect human rights," it said.
        
        Even before the arrest, pressure from the United States has
        been forcing Huawei on to the back foot in telecom markets.
        
        Washington has long expressed worries that Huawei's ties to
        Beijing make the network equipment it sells a security risk.
        
        Huawei, the world's largest supplier of telecommunications
        network equipment and second-biggest maker of smartphones, has
        repeatedly denied accusations that it facilitates Chinese
        espionage.
        
        "I am proud of Huawei, I am proud of my motherland," Meng
        said in a post on Chinese social media after her release.
        
        Meng's arrest and Huawei's struggle to allay security fears
        have triggered a wave of sympathy on Chinese social media.
        
        "She has a strong motherland at her back," wrote one user on
        the Twitter-like Weibo.
        
        DETAINED CANADIAN
        
        Authorities in China are holding former Canadian diplomat
        Michael Kovrig on suspicion of engaging in activities harmful to
        national security. He was detained on Monday.
        
        The Global Times said there was no evidence Kovrig's arrest
        was in any way connected to the case, but added, "the assumption
        is because Canada has gone too far and people naturally believe
        China will retaliate".
        
        Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland warned the
        United States on Wednesday not to politicise extradition cases,
        a day after President Donald Trump said he would intervene in
        the case if it served national security interests.
        
        In another editorial on Thursday, the official China Daily
        newspaper accused the United States of manufacturing the
        diplomatic incident in order to serve political ends.
        
        "Washington is mistaken if it thinks it can take Meng
        hostage and ransom her for concessions in the upcoming trade
        talks," it said.